West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-10-28


Offset in what concerns just .political
action. Paradox # may seem to be,
but fact it is, that the immense adj
vantages which leisure and learning
have conferred are largely neutral
lied, and in some cases utterly out
weighed, by the binding influences
of subtler, deeper, and more com
prehensive selfishness.
E. d. Mead said:
Iwis to urge upon all who are dis
posed to take the trouble to teach
this great mixed public of ours, the
suprem educational Importance o.
elections. Supremacy important
election are inevitably in the train
ing of democratic people; but
what wish to urge is the impor-
lance of utilizing our political cam
paigns far more wisely and system
atically than we do for broad dis
cussions and general public in
struction. Some good professor
used to tell his pupils to seize the
moment of excited curiosity for the
requirement of knowledge. The
election is the moment of excited
curiasity in politics, the time when
the masses of the people are recep-
tive, attentive, and alert. 1t is the
time which they are able to appro-
pirate, in their busy lives, to earnest
and sustained consideration of the
issues of the city, the state, or the
nation; and when general questions
of policp become vital, because now
practical an necessary to be decided
and acted upon. Ordinarily, the
lecture on taxation, or the civil SER
vice, or the land laws, would draw a
very little crowd of the "plain peo-
Pile" and would provoke the very
little crowd to very much yawning.
But let Henry George be candi-
date for office, let the practical ap-
prevail or condemnation of parti-
san president be a matter in hand,
or let the issue of Protection or Free
Trade be staked on the election
and what difference! Your larg-
est hall is filled with all sorts and
conditions of men, patient and in
tent on all the germane statistics
and theories which you have to offer.
1t is not necessary to amplify up
on this point; it is only necessary
to call attention to it. | call atten-
ton to it here for the sake of urging
those who desire to teach the people
good politics to make better use of
election opportunities. There is
scope and invitation here, for the
best work of the best men,-invita-
ton especially for the thoughtful
young men of the country. 1t &C
cuses us that our campaign discus
sions are so often permitted to pro-
coed upon so low level, that the
people are condemned to waste over
personalities and vulgarities the
time which they would so willingly
give to worthy discussions of worthy
themes. 1t accuses our intellectual
men, that, from the caucus up, q
more intellectual tone does not mark
our political meetings. Decree some
pertinent brief address from some
thoughtful man of the ward before
the balloting, and the caucus will
instantly become more dignifed,
more significant, and better attend
ed. Organize for serious present
ment of the serious principles in
volved in national election, as it
approaches, and you will be listened
to by the people, you will be doing
one of the greatest things possible
for their education, and you will be
doing the utmost to stay the ava
lanche of demoralizing personal
abuse, which too often marks and
monopolizes ourpolitical campaigns.
We are entering a period when
the considerations here urged will
be especially important. Theissues
between our two great parties, many
of them at least, have been fictitious
or purely traditional. Our next ma
tional election will probably present
us a vital issue: the issue of a tariff
for Protection or tariff for Reve-
nue.. Everywhere, grave questions
of social and industrial organiza-
tions are pressing into politics; the
pending contest by Mr.. George
in New York is but one of num-
berless such contests which we are
to see. The coming questions are
momentous and complex, demand
ing much serious discussion and not
defamation; and it is in the elect
ion seasons that the most efficacious
discussion must be carried on. Let
our best political thinkers realize
this and let them keep close to the
people.
The wear and tear of frequent cleo
tions is very great; but in the town
where the political meeting comes
but once in five years, as in the
Canada town of which l read in the
newspaper before me, a strong and
worthy democratic life is impossible
The idea of yearly state election
may with some be superstition but
whatever changes we make, let us
not be actuated too much by the
desire to get rid of truble, let us not
fene.ot tho l;st;nn+ olnnnt;onnl nffsno